Metal wheel



G. G. BARRY METAL WHEEL Filed Aug. 15, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 New. 13 1923,

G. G. BARRY METAL WHEEL Filed Aug. 15, 1921 conditions and to provide a wheel similar parts throughout Patented Nov. 13, 11923.

UNHT stares g GERALD G. BARRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

METAL .WHEEL.

Application filed August 15, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GERALD G. BARRY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Wheels, of which invention the following is a specification.

The present invention relates principally, but not exclusively, to wheels for automobiles wherein the supporting structure be tween the hub and rim members is formed from sheet metal. The per pound capacity of a relatively thin sheet metal plate when placed on edge to withstand enormous load strains is well known, but in "ehicle wheels the danger from the severe twisting or lateral strains in striking curbing, ruts or other obstructions, is an important one to be guarded against. The ordinary disc wheels frequently buckle or become distorted; and difficulty is also found at the fastening of the thin wall to the hub. The object of my invention is to overcome these practical which is light in weight, yet capable of withstanding severe driving stresses, is of pleasing appearance, simple and low in cost of construction, and has other advantages which will be apparent to the manufacturer and users of such wheels.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, like letters or marks of reference are used to designate the several figures.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the new wheel, a portion being broken away to expose details for explanatory reference; Fig.2 is a transverse view taken on the arrowed line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section, through one unit and parts ofadjacent units, as indicated by the arrows 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is another transverse section showing a modified form of rim assembly; and Fig. 5 is a detached view of one of the sector-shaped supporting units.

The hub member, generally speaking, is designated by A. The hub inconnection with which the new structure is here illustrated is a front wheel hub, having suitable openings to receive the customary bearings, shaft, etc. Of course, any other suitable hub or shaft member may be employed. In the hub shown a1 is the main hub body, a denotes the customary integral flange extend- 111g outwardly from and following circum- Serial N0. 492,348.

ferentially around the inner end of the main hub body; a is a removable cap or clamping member, having interior threaded portion a, for screwing upon the outer threaded end a of the hub body a. The operation of this particular hub member will be referred to later.

Element B, the new supporting structure between the hub A and outer rim member C,

will now be described. The main body is composed of a plurality of sector shaped units, each preferably drawn from one piece of sheet steel, the wheel illustrated in Fig. 1 showing thissupporting structure made up of ten such sector units. In a co-pending application, Serial N 0. 415,511, I show somewhat similar sector supporting units consisting of two complemental members, telescoped together, and the present design embodies features of improvement upon the structure there shown. Referring more particularly to Fig. 5 and the broken and exposed part of Fig. 1, these hollow sector units are preferably drawn, by a suitable series of operations, from a single piece of sheet or blank, so as to form as a seamless one piece unit the inner or hub base portion 6 the spaced apart side walls, marked b and b tapering from the hub toward the rim, and connecting walls 6 and 6 The outer or rim end, marked 3), is open to permit withdrawal of the male plug of the forming die. The edge is suitably trimmed to conform to the rim. Into this open outer end 6 of each unit, however, there is preferably then inserted a snugly fitting felly section, preferably having a base 6 and outwardly drawn integral flange extending around and closing the end If of the unit. It will be observed that the taper given by the walls 6 and 6 allows a good wedging action to this closure, and if desired the units may be dipped in solder or otherwise more certainly sealed against the admisionof water etc.

Before placing the outer closure, however, I prefer to insert a suitably formed reinforcement 6 down inside at the hub end, which may be secured in place by then pressing, but not iercing, a part of the walls 6 and b as in icated at 5 In drawing the units, the inner or hub end of the walls 6* and b is given a less or practically no taper, as indicated at b, and

when the series of sector units are assembled, 110 as shown in Fig. 1, there is thus provided 'between adjacent units a suitable opening side type shown in through which securing bolts or rivets b may be passed. In assembling the series of units B, I prefer to provide at the center, on opposite sides, a pair of flat circular reinforcing plates, marked 7) and b, preferably of a heavier gauge of sheet steel, and the series of units B are clamped tightly between these plates by the bolts or rivets I)". These members b, b, of course, have a central opening, permitting mounting upon and removal from the hub. -At the outer edge, the adjacent units may be riveted or otherwise secured together at the adjoining felly section ends, as indicated at b.

If thus clamped and secured, the series of units would r'orm a quite rigid wheel, adapted to be mounted upon any suitable hub, and to have operatively mounted and supporting thereupon any suitable form of tire carrying rim In Fig. 2 and Fig. 1 a tire carrying rim is shown which embodies my preference for straight side pneumatic. tires. This consists of an annular band 0 provided with an inwardly extended into ral flange 0 The supporting structure assembled as just described, ma be forced within the band 0 and against t e flange or the more permanent joining of the units, as at I), may be omitted, and the series of units merely placed within this outer rim structure to make the assembled wheel form of the structure. On the inside of the wheel isa detachable annular flange 0 and the series of supporting sector-units may be clamped permanently in place by a series of rivets 0, extending from the flange 0 through the wall 12 the opposite flange wall of the felly section, the wall b and the rim flan e 0 but not through the detachable part of tfle rim structure to be presently referred On the inner edge of the band 0 is an outwardly extendin integral flange 0" (see Fig. 2 and Fig.1 and at the opposite side is a corresponding. but detachable, flange 0", the latter having a further integral part 0 extending hubwardly and adapted to abut the flange 0 This removable side 0, 0 is detachably secured by a series of bolts 0 the inner end of which may be provided with a suitable head 0 adapted to prevent turning when the lugs or nuts 0* are-turned u on the threads 0 provided on the outer ends of the bolts 0 In Fig. 4 is illustrated a transverse section throu h a further form of rim assembly. The and '0 is provided with integral clincher type of tire retainin flanges, which for distinction from the straight Fig. 2, are here marked 0 and c. This is the type generally used on the well known Ford car. This rim may be permanently secured to the series of sector supporting units by providing the outwardly extending flanges b with further flanges on opposite sides,

series of which w1ll form I) the assembled marked b and an annular band which is forced within the rim band 0 On the outer side,at least, of

the wheel I prefer to also provide an annular angle flange member, one part Z2 conforming to the annul other, Z2 fitting again porting units.

angle be secured to the rim and cross rivets b.

flange piece may be opposite side of the wheel.

ar flange b and the st the wall of the sup- Obviously a corresponding provided on the The whole may band 0 by rivets 71 The before described supporting structure, provided with mg central opening,

mounted upon any a suitable hub receivobviously may be form of hub. I have here illustrated a special form of hub. In Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, it willbe noticed the main hub body a is made non-circular, and is also tapered from the flange a toward the outer edge. The ends I) of the respective sector units and the clamping flanges I), b of the supporting structure are shaped and tapered to correspond; and I serting a correspondi the structure B. complemental hub supporting structure also contemplate inng shaped ferrule m This form of hub and receiving opening on the B is adapted to permit easy positioning or removal of the supporting structure, non-circular shape I also contemplate tween the flange (1r, sisting in driving.

hub body ing with the threaded be termed the wedging d when in place the affords the driving means.

co-operating means beand On the outer end of the a is the threaded portion a coactflange I) for aspart a of what might cap (i It will be observed from Fig. 2 that as this cap 15 screwed upon the end structure B is forced tightly against the inner flange 01-: and when a the supportin upon the'body a am the cap a is unscrewed and removed the supporting structure may be readily deymounted from the hub. To prevent the cap from becoming uninte lock the same in position by means of small spring pressed outer edge of the flange cap a.

ntionall unscrewed l a plunger fitted in the which en gages with one of a series of holes bored in line around The p a circular mg flange b.

the face of the clamplungcr a may be held out of place when screwing or unscrewin the cap, but when rele only need to be moved a very of a turn when the p one of the holes and f vented.

used the flange a will small fraction lunger will snap into urther movement pre- The tightly abutting relation of the series of sector shaped units forming the main supporting structure in the several figures o sector shaped hollow and brace each other.

should be carefully noted f the drawings. These metal units reinforce lt will be observed tween the hub there is thus provided in the assembled wheel, in effect, a pair of discs, spaced apart, under and supportin the rim member, the spaced apart walfs b 6 being braced against side strains by the series of connecting walls 6*, 6?, which also serve as a radial two-.ply spokes to supplement the discs 6 and b in supportin the rim C upon the hub member A. T e series of felly sections, preferably inserted and closing the end 6, when assembled thus form a strong support, like a felly. In an other view of the subject, the support structure B may be regarded as consisting of a solid series of secto shaped hollow spokes, secured much like an ordinary spoke.

()ne of the main drawbacks ound with so-called disc wheels on automobiles is the difliculty of fastening to the hub flange and the danger of buckling. As a result a heavier gauge of metal is used than is required for the normal load, and frequently a specially formed blank, thicker at the hub fastening than toward the rim s employed. It will be apparent that by my desgn with the use of a relatively thin and light weight standard sheet, a wheel structure, constructed and assembled as herein described, will have the capacity to withstand severe side-thrust as well as other driving stresses, and the advantages of its hub fastening over the ordinary disc Wheel should be obvious. The series of sector units furnish a wide foundation similar to and are fastened like the ordinary wooden spoke artillery wheel.

It will be apparent that various changes may be made in the wheel herein chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not wish any undue limitation to result from the detailed description given, but desire the claims appended hereto to be construed as broadly as possible in View of the prior art relating to such wheels.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis the following:

1. In a wheel, included as a support be and rim members, a series of sector shaped hollow metal units formed in a single piece, arranged in abutting relation with each other, and constructed and assembled substantially as shownand described.

2. In a wheel of thecharacter described, the hollow metal units, each comprising a sector of the supporting structure between the hub and rim members, formed from a single metal blank, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a wheel of the character described, the hollow metal units, each comprising a sector of the supporting structure between the hub and rim members of the wheel, formed from a single metal blank substantially as described herein, and inserted in each unit a felly section reinforcement and closure, substantially as set forth.

4. In a wheel of the character described, as a supporting body between the hub and rim members, a plurality of hollow metal units, each drawn from a single blank so as to provide integrally the base 6 the two sector shaped spaced apart walls 6 and 6 and the connecting walls I) and b and having the open end 6", the outer end of each unit being trimmed to conform to the rim member of the wheel, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described.

5. In a wheel of the character described, the supporting units each formed from a single blank and comprising the hub end base I), the two spaced apart main side walls 12 and b and. the connecting walls 6* and 6 substantially as set forth.

6. In a wheel of thecharacter described, the reinforcing felly member consisting of the series of unit closure sections arranged in abutting relation to form an annular felly member, substantially as shown and described.

7. In a wheel of the character described, as a supporting body between the hub and rim members, a plurality of hollow metal units, each made in a single piece so as to provide integrally the two sector shaped spaced apart walls 6 and b and the connecting walls I) and b and means for securing such supporting units in the wheel structure.

8. A wheel comprising a suitable hub and tire carrying rim and between said hub and rim a supporting structure consisting of a plurality of metal units, each unit being formed in a-single piece so as to provide integrally the two sector shaped spaced apart walls 6 and b and the connecting walls 6 and b, and leaving in each the open end I), and a reinforcing felly member consisting of the series of unit closure sections arranged in abutting relation, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

GERALD G. BARRY. 

